Week 23 Results – Thomas Hattrick Sets Up Grandstand Finish for Ladies’ 1s in Epic City Clash

Men’s 1s: 1-10 loss vs Harleston Magpies 3 (Away)
(Pears)

The less said about this one, the better.

See you next season. #wolfpaktakeover

Men’s 2s: 5-0 win vs Lowestoft Railway 2 (Home)
(Lowestoft Conceded)

Mr Baker is not impressed.

Ladies’ 1s: 4-3 win vs Cambridge City 3 (Home)
(Thomas 3, L. Evans)

After losing to league leaders St Neots last week, Newmarket Ladies 1st team had an epic battle to face knowing they had to beat second placed Cambridge City to still have a chance of being promoted to the first division.

With the home crowd support and a positive frame of mind Town were up for the 3 point battle.

City were looking the most threatening in the first ten minutes, especially on the break.

Newmarket youthful forwards Jess Logan and Grace Evans provided pace up front for Town to release quick balls through midfield. After a tussle in the D Newmarket were awarded a short corner. Injector Di Thomas passed straight to Lydia Evan who unleashed a bullet of a shot in to the bottom left hand corner-her third goal in as many weeks.

Now with the wind in their sails Newmarket relaxed and after good intercepting from Becka Bunning and Becca Barnes, Claire McDonnell raced up the pitch with the ball. She squared to Beth Wombwell and Thomas arrived in front of the keeper to deflect her shot home.

Cambridge were not going to give up and after half time found the two goals they needed-one from a very skilful short corner play.

Hayley Stoneman played a key role in generating the play for Newmarket in midfield and worked tirelessly with Gail Parkins to get the ball out of the danger zone. Jersey Bennett made her first team debut in the Town goal and displayed neat, controlled keeping.

Coach Nick Thorpe made an inspired substitution – switching Thomas to a forward role making the defence think. Within the space of 5 minutes of continued pressure on the Cambridge defence, Thomas scored twice – a close range slap in to goal and a trademark reverse stick flick giving her a hattrick during the match and Town a two goal cushion.

With five minutes remaining the play looked frantic and it took all Newmarket’s energy to keep Cambridge at bay. With two minutes remaining City scored but it was not enough to take a share of the points.

Newmarket’s final game of the season is against Long Sutton at home next week, and if Town draw or win – this will be enough to give them second in the league and promotion to division 1. However if Long Sutton win, they will get the promotion spot-so a very competitive game awaits the side.

Ladies’ 2s: 3-0 win vs Wisbech Town 3 (Away)
(Bailey 2, Fox)

L2s travelled to Wisbech for a long awaited “clash of titans with a small t”. The fate of both teams is sealed. Relegation awaits, the pressure off, and a lovely game of hockey was played. Support was good natured from both sides and Wisbech did not disappoint with teas: fantastic cake and genuine chat and banter between experienced players and emerging talent alike.

Man of the Match was shared between Emma Lankfer and Captain Zoe Bailey for creating 2 of the 3 winning goals. The first fed by Emma to Zoe waiting just wide of left post, a Wisbech defender caused the ball to elevate and Bailey used 3D skills to control the ball, shooting when it was just off the ground to the inside of far right post. Newmarket’s Milou Ottolini battled well in midfield and took this attitude within the opposition D to win many short corners. Hannah Fox converted one of these opportunities sending the ball between the posts when so many had swerved wide. Wisbech’s defence held strong and the third goal came long into in the 2nd half after long corner. Taken by Steph Heslop, passed to Emma Lankfer who carried the ball to the top of the D, making the shot and Bailey (possibly “poaching”) connected a reverse stick to bring the score to 3-0.

Next week L2s travel to Huntingdon for elevenses, playing a match postponed by the frosts of earlier in the year.

Ladies’ 3s: 1-2 loss vs Cambridge South 3 (Away)
(Dryland)

Saturday saw the Ladies 3s in sunny and very warm Cambridge to take on Cambridge South 3s, in an usually late game.
The game started well for the ladies with plenty of good possession and strong drives down pitch. Megan Pithers and Gabi Asker joined the ladies for the day and were both commended on their fantastic work rate and effort that they put in. Laura Excell drove down the left wing playing the ball back into Gabi and into the D. Short corners were awarded to the ladies but unfortunately Newmarket had trouble finding anything that wasn’t either wide of the posts or a goalkeepers pad. Laura Excell received a ball to the knee from a keepers kick that saw her take some time on the sidelines.
In a game that was dominated by Newmarket, South had 2 breakaway runs into Town’s D and on both occasions slipped the ball past keeper Helen Atkinson to take us to 2-0 down.
The second half started with sub Mel Cummins permanently stationed at the left post, and the ladies creating many more opportunities. A short corner routine saw Jane Dryland with the ball at top D, sending a strike deep into the back of the goal to bring the score to 2-1.
Town battled on fearlessly to try and win more and try to get the elusive goals. Georgia Atherton had a great game as sweeper collecting, intercepting and sending any stray balls back up pitch. With time running out for Town, another flurry of shot corners saw the girls desperately trying to even the score, to no avail.
Coach Colin Seakins was very happy with the ladies performance which was not reflected by the scoreline, stating it was some of the best hockey he’d seen from the ladies.
Man of the match went to Laura Excell, for her tireless work throughout the game. A close second was Sophie Bell who put some incredible crosses in from midfield and just improves week on week.
Teddy was awarded to the ladies who put each others skirts on by mistake and had to change in the field!!
Next week sees the ladies back at long road to take on Cambridge South 2s at 10:30am, for their final game of the season.

Ladies’ 4s: 0-12 loss vs Cambridge South 2 (Home)